Djokovic beats top seed Zverev in Beijing to extend China Open run to 32

Novak Djokovic beat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the China Open quarter-finals in Beijing on Sunday 4 October 2026. He came back from a set down. The win took his unbeaten run at the tournament to 32 matches.

Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals. Medvedev beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 6-3. According to the BBC, Medvedev is the third seed and the semi-final is to be played on Monday.

Djokovic is 39 and a 24-time Grand Slam champion. Zverev is the world number two, about a decade younger, and in contention for the men's world number one ranking. According to the BBC, the defeat dented his quest to finish the year as world number one.

Zverev broke serve in the first game and went on to win the first set. Djokovic broke to take the second set, then broke again with a 5-4 lead in the third to win the match.

According to the Guardian, the match lasted two hours and 34 minutes and Zverev served 19 aces. The Guardian also reported that the umpire agreed to replay a first-set point Djokovic had won, after Zverev complained about a flicker in the LED panels. The crowd booed. The reports do not include an explanation from the umpire or tournament officials.

An Anadolu headline said the 32nd straight win broke a record held by Rafael Nadal. The reports do not say which record this is or what Nadal's figure was.

According to the BBC, Djokovic is seeking a seventh China Open title and his first trophy of 2026, a year in which form and fitness have been challenging for him.

Other results

Hubert Hurkacz beat Karen Khachanov and will play Alex de Minaur, who beat Andrey Rublev 1-6 6-2 6-3.

In the women's event, Nikola Bartunkova beat Aryna Sabalenka. According to the Guardian, the score was 6-4 6-3 in the third round, and Bartunkova is 20 and ranked world No 34. The Guardian also reported that top seed Elena Rybakina lost to world No 118 Alina Charaeva on Saturday and withdrew from the Wuhan Open on Sunday.

What each side says

• Djokovic: The BBC quoted him as saying: "These are the kind of moments that I still play for, compete for". He added: "It's been a struggle this year for different reasons" and "But I'm still there, still grinding, still making the youngsters work for their money. I'm just glad to push it through."
• Zverev: The reports do not include any direct quote from him. According to the Guardian, he complained about a flicker in the LED panels, which led to the replayed point.
• Bartunkova: The Guardian quoted her as saying: "She’s a legend … so I’m really happy that I won the match."
• Rybakina: According to the Guardian, she said a foot injury hampered her against Charaeva and is the reason for her Wuhan withdrawal.

Analysis

The result keeps Djokovic in contention for a title in a season the BBC describes as difficult for him, but a semi-final against Medvedev, a former world number one according to the Guardian, leaves the outcome open. For Zverev, the loss dented his quest to finish the year as world number one, according to the BBC; the reports do not give the standings or say who else is in the race. The reported Nadal record cannot be assessed without further detail. In the women's draw, the exits of the top two seeds could open the field to lower-ranked players, though no outcome is assured.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.